Nature breaks to help burnout

In this developmental research session presented at the The Association for Research on Nonprofit Organizations and Voluntary Action Conference, we propose a study about using nature breaks to help alleviate nonprofit worker burnout.

Abstract: Leader burnout is pervasive in nonprofits and detrimental to organizations’ financial performance and ability to fulfill their mission. The three dimensions of burnout–exhaustion, cynicism, inefficacy–require their own remedies, but organizational approaches can be costly and ineffective, omitting individuals’ agency. They fail to consider burnout’s prevalence among nonprofit workers; indeed, 88% say they are approaching/experiencing burnout. Drawing on the Job Demands and Resources Model, we propose an Experience Sampling Methodology study to investigate one type of (free) agentic, resource-generating way to remedy burnout–nature breaks–which can address all three dimensions, especially for those with lower perceived collective burnout.

Citation: Schendel, H*., Greenfield, C*., Lassu, R.A., O’Steen, H., & Stuart, B. (2024). Nonprofit leader burnout: Why and for whom nature breaks replenish individuals’ resources. ARNOVA. 21-23. November, 2024. Washington D.C.

URL: https://www.arnova.org/assets/docs/arnova-2024-catalog-of-research.pdf

*Student co-authors